It was an early start for this soldier this morning as he joined hundreds more on the deserted streets of London to rehearse the State Procession for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

While most of the capital was still sleeping, members of the Armed Forces performed a full dress rehearsal at dawn ahead of the spectacle on Tuesday.

With the sun barely risen, members of The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment rode from the Palace of Westminster along Whitehall to Trafalgar Square, then through Admiralty Arch and along the Mall to Buckingham Palace.

The route was lined with personnel from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, Foot Guards and Massed Bands of the Household Division, the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment and the Queen's Colour Squadron of the Royal Air Force.

Early start: Soldiers rode through the capital before London awoke (Image: Getty)

The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery simulated firing a 60-gun salute on Horse Guards Parade as some 2,000 servicemen and women took part in the rehearsal.

The 1902 state landau carriage, which will transport the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh from a service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral on Tuesday and was used by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their wedding day, followed behind the mounted regiment, but remained empty.

Other carriages from the Royal Mews which will carry other members of family on the day also took part.

On Tuesday thousands of flag-waving well-wishers will wait hours to see the procession, but today the only audience members were a few early joggers.

Next week the arrival of the mounted regiment will be greeted by deafening cheers, but this morning's eerie silence was broken only by the sound of horse's hooves and barked instructions to the path liners.

On parade: Members of the Armed Forces line-up this morning (Image: Getty)

Procession: 2,000 servicemen and women took part in today's rehearsal (Image: Getty)